She held her breath. A figure was advancing toward the front door. She was reaching for the gun when Madison touched the alarm panel, lighting it up in the darkness. Kathryn’s fingers brushed cold metal, then pulled back as if shocked. She’d been seconds from shooting. Jesus, I could have killed the kid. Even if Madison did betray her to the feds, she didn’t want her dead. And that made things tricky. Madison was probably wearing a wire. Dealing with her would be a huge risk. But running away and leaving her to face Charlie alone—that was something Kathryn just couldn’t do.
* * *
They were on the highway heading north, with Madison driving, when Kathryn’s phone rang. When the name MARIE ALLEN flashed on the screen, her heart clutched. Sylvia knew better than to call from that number. It had to be the neighbor, calling from Sylvia’s phone to say she’d passed away.
“Hello?”
“Kathy.”
She went cold and still.
“Ray.”
“Why didn’t you tell me? All these years, I could have been with her.”
His voice was thick and phlegmy, as if he’d been crying. She didn’t give a rip about his feelings.
“I didn’t tell you because you would’ve had her killed.”
“That’s crazy. You know how I feel about her.”
“How can I believe you after everything that’s happened? I’m just begging you, don’t hurt her.”
“Hurt her? She’s dying. I’m sitting here holding her hand while she drifts in and out.”
“Oh no, not again. She was so alert when I left.”
Tears started rolling down her cheeks. That was a bad sign.
“I wanted to be there for her when she passed. That’s why I took the risk of going there. You followed me, didn’t you?”
“Yeah, because I was worried what they would do to you. I watched you get on that bus the other night, thinking you got spooked and ran. I followed you to keep you safe. Like, if Charlie actually came at you, I’d intervene. But then you went to New Hampshire. And I’m thinking, what the hell is she doing there, going to this hospital, visiting this Denise person I never heard of? So I kept my distance, thinking I might catch you meeting with the feds.”
“It’s not what you think.”
“Oh, I know that now. It’s worse. Come to find out you’ve been lying to me for years, and not only about Sylvia. Your daughter is beautiful, Kathy. She looks just like you, with those big eyes, watching all the time.”
He had her daughter. She wanted to scream. It was her worst nightmare. All the years of precautions blown out of the water in the panic and sloppiness of the last forty-eight hours.
“Where is she? What have you done with her?”
Madison looked over in alarm.
“Relax, she’s sleeping in a chair right here. I brought her to say goodbye to her grandma. That Denise? Nice lady. But—I don’t know if she was fed up looking after a kid, or what. She handed Grace over without a lot of questions. You should be more careful who you leave her with.”
“I’m begging you, don’t hurt her.”
“C’mon, this is your Uncle Ray you’re talking to. You should be thanking your lucky stars I took her, so she’s safe. Denise would’ve given her to Charlie.”
“What do you want? Anything. Name your price.”
“I see I’m not getting through to you. So let me lay the cards on the table. I want to be with Sylvia. That’s what I want. It didn’t happen in this life. Now I’m focused on the next, and that’s right around the corner. I got cancer. It’s in my lungs, and it’s spreading. I don’t have too long.”
She’d thought the last few times she saw him that he looked worse than ever, his complexion like spoiled milk, his hands perpetually shaking. She’d put it down to booze.
But Ray was dying.
Kathryn believed that, and her rage began to dissipate.
“I’m sorry to hear that, Uncle Ray,” she said, and was surprised to realize that she meant it, even now.
“Thank you, honey. I’m not sorry myself, not if it means I can be with her. But I realized, for that to happen, your mother and I need to wind up in the same place. If I don’t atone for my sins and make amends, Saint Peter’s gonna take one look at me and send me downstairs.”
She didn’t say anything. Because she couldn’t argue with that.
“I have an idea for how to get my house in order. You’re a big part of it.”